Baracking Strategic Vision. I've hear that the Strategic Vision group is a Republican organization. That's just a galactically sheepish thing to say, in my opinion. Republican pollsters are not any more or less reliable than Democratic pollsters in predicting an Iowa caucus.

In any event, the negative independent groups, much like those neocon swiftboaters, got to a small percentage of Obama's supporters. Not surprisingly, Edwards and Clinton benefitted equally. Their timing was good, but Barack is hanging in the race in a statistical three way dead heat. Slime works, but using it is like saying "hit me" in Vegas. How much will Iowans swallow? Maybe a better question is, do they swallow?

It could be that Obama's numbers didn't move, the other top tier candidates picked up some votes from Richardson and undecided voters. Whether Obama's numbers dropped or not, this is not good.

Barack Obama 30%.........33(12/12)........32(12/5)
Hillary Clinton 29%........25(12/12)........25(12/5)
John Edwards 28%.........24(12/12)........25(12/5)
Joseph Biden 5%...........4(12/12).........5(12/5)
Bill Richardson 2%.........4(12/12).........4(12/5)
Chris Dodd 1%..............1(12/12).........1(12/5)
Dennis Kucinich 1%........1(12/12).........1(12/5)
Undecided 4%.............. 8(12/12).........8(12/5)  ¶ 1:10 AM